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In my
previous article (published Thu
10th April 2008) on Naylor backgammon boards I stated that I had
heard a rumour that Genesis Naylor boards are not up the high
standard that David Naylor boards were but that I would shortly be
able to visit a London Club that was about to take delivery of
Genesis’s work.
I never did find out who started the rumour or what their
complaint might have been about Genesis boards – funny how often
accusations are made but when questions are asked about them
evidence seems to be sparse. I have now visited the London Club
and photographed the 4 boards Genesis made (prior to my article of
10th April I might add.) They are without doubt extremely good
examples of Naylor art. The quality of the workmanship is at least
as good as David’s was and might even be better. Let’s look in
detail at the sets.
They are table top boards and as such to be fair are less complex
pieces of work than a folding briefcase type of set which must
incorporate hinges, closures, covers and preferably a design on
the outside. Hence it must be said that a direct comparison
between David’s work and these examples of Genesis’s work is not
entirely valid. However we can look at the quality of leather,
workmanship and finish. The London Club had the tables custom made
for the boards so this project was a meeting of two artists – wood
worker and leather worker. The tables themselves are perfectly
suited to the job – not overly fussy yet sturdy enough to provide
a good playing surface on which to play a proper game of
backgammon. The boards are in good proportion to the tables with
sufficient space on either side of the board for drinks and a
scorecard.
One of the glories of a table top board is that they can be just a
backgammon board with no need for other elements to distract one
from playing the game – Genesis has achieved this perfectly. The
lines are clean and simple which make the boards stand out well.
The boards are Maxi size boards. Often the folding version of this
size looks overly large but in this case, because they are built
slightly down into the tables, one does not get this impression at
all – they are just a good large board.
I’m pleased to note that the leather is indeed top quality. No
pock marks or any hint of second quality leather here – it seems
that Genesis is as fussy as his father David was in the leather he
uses for his art. The different colours of the leather are also in
perfect proportions. The dying of leather is a little appreciated
factor in making a successful board –colours need to compliment
each other yet not clash with each other. If the maker gets this
just slightly wrong players will not be inspired to play upon the
board, but get it right, as Genesis has, and players will play for
hours upon end. I also searched for floors in the joining of
leather but failed to find any at all – my conclusion is therefore
that Genesis is as much a leather artist as his father was.
The boards are equipped with ringed checkers. I’m not sure what
Genesis has done to achieve the weight of the checkers but the
simple fact is that he has got them just right – they are neither
too heavy or too light. In the best traditions of Naylor boards
the checkers slide easily over the playing surface and click with
a satisfaction when placed up against each other.
I can’t say I’m a fan of the cups though. These are of the tubular
variety which to be fair are not my taste though are popular with
Scandinavian players. However these were ordered by the Club who
do like tubular cups so no fault can be laid at Genesis’s door. On
the plus side the cups do fit snugly in the side troughs when not
in use. The cups are lipped so produce a random roll.
There are no Naylor doubling cubes which I found slightly
disappointing. I’m not sure David ever got his leather doubling
cube quite perfect but they were at least in keeping with the rest
of his sets. Instead these boards are equipped with a variety of
large marbleised cubes that I presume the club sourced from
elsewhere. Given that chouette play is popular at this club a set
of board colour matching (tan, mushroom and charcoal) doubling
cubes would have been a nice touch.
The overall effect of the boards is tremendous. In short, Naylor
boards are back. The first son of David Naylor has the same, maybe
better, skill that his father had. We can look forward to new
Naylor boards at events in the future.
Further Genesis has some ideas of his own. He is shortly going to
launch a new size board - something between a Tournament and a
Maxi size. I applaud this idea because some found the Tournament a
little small and others found the Maxi a little too large.
Genesis has a new retailer here in London -
Foster and Son of Jermyn Street,
St James which is London's oldest established shoemakers and run
by keen backgammon players Sarah Adlam and Richard Edgecliffe-Johnson.
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